Locking device for pivotally opposed members



Feb. 8, 1955 c. H. ORTMAN LOCKING DEVICE FOR PIVOTALLY OPPOSED MEMB ERS Filed Jan. 28, 1954 INVENTOR.

Cf/Aflffi H- OFT/WAN BY Arrow/5y Feb. 8, 1955 c, ORTMAN 2,701,488

LOCKING DEVICE FOR PIVOTALLY OPP OSED MEMBERS Filed Jan. 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. C/MRL 5 0/? TMA/Y United States Patent LOCKING DEVICE FOR PIVOTALLY OPPOSED MEMBERS Charles H. Ortman, Chardon, Ohio, assignor of one-third to Ira J. Warner, Cleveland, Ohio Application January 28, 1954, Serial No. 406,731

12 Claims. (Cl. 8149) My invention relates to locking or clamping means for handles, levers and similar elements, and relates more particularly to means for releasably clamping or looking opposed pivoted members in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions. The invention relates particularly to clamping and locking means and is an improvement on the type disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 352,115, filed April 30, 1953.

It is, therefore, one of the objects of this invention to provide an effective clamping or locking means for pivotally opposed members such as tool handles, levers or the like whereby the same may be locked in any predetermined relative position.

Another object of the invention is a looking or clamping device having pivotally opposed members which includes a member connecting said pivoted members and having binding engagement therewith in any one of a plurality of pre-selected positions.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a simple locking and clamping mechanism for pivotally opposed members in which the locking means may be released from clamping and locking position with respect to one of the members and urged to a nested position with respect to the other pivoted member.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tool such as pliers or the like comprising a pair of pivotally opposed members together with means bridging said members and slidably movable along each of said members to any one of a plurality of pro-selected binding positions to maintain said members in a relatively spaced apart work-engaging and holding position.

A further object of the invention is a device of the type defined which is extremely simple in construction and operation and which also provides a positive grip upon the opposed members with which it is associated.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of the class described in which the binding means is slidably and pivotally carried with respect to one of a pair of pivotally opposed members and which is slidably engageable with the other opposed member, there being provided means on said binding member whereby the same may be urged to a nesting position with respect to one of said pivoted members.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device of the above mentioned character which is inexpensive to manufacture and vet which is sturdy and positive in use.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which comprises a single locking arm carried at one end along one of a pair of pivotally opposed members, and engageable at its other end with the other pivotally opposed member in binding relation thereto and having means carried thereon for selectively positioning said binding member with respect to the first proposed member to maintain it out of engagement with the other opposed member in nested position with respect to the first member.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a simple locking means by pivotally opposed means in which there is provided but one part slidable with respect to each of said opposed members.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent as the following description of an embodiment thereof progresses, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which like reference ctlliaracters are employed to designate like parts throughout t e same.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of my invention shown applied in use on a pair of pliers in which the pliers jaws are separated to receive a workpiece;

Figure 2 is a top view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 1 but shows the pliers jaws engaging a workpiece and the looking or clamping means adjusted to binding position with respect to the handles of the pliers;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and illustrates the manner in which the binding or locking arm is released with respect to one of the handles and is urged into nesting position with respect to the other;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention in which the binding means has sliding engagement at one end in a slot in one of the handles and has its other end slidably operating in an elongated slot formed in the other handle;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 and shows a workpiece being held between the jaws of the pliers and locking means in adjusted binding position along the handles;

Figure 8 is a view showing the jaws closed and the binding means released from one of the handles and urged into nesting position with respect to the other handle;

Figure 9 is an enlarged section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 6;

Figure 10 is an enlarged section taken on line 10-10 of Figure 8; and Figure 11 illustrates a second modified form of the mvention.

As stated above, this invention relates to the type of clamping and locking means for opposed pivoted members of the type illustrated in the herein identified copending application in which pivotally opposed members each are adapted to slidably support a bridging member or arm in which one end of the arm has pivotal and sliding support along one of the opposed members and in which the other end and adjacent portions of the arm are slidable in a guide located on the other opposed pivoted member and in which the bridging member or arm may be adjusted to any one of a plurality of predetermined locking and clamping positions with respect to the opposed members forming therewith binding means whereby the opposed members may be locked or clamped in a predetermined relatlve position. The present invention more particularly relates to an improvement in this type of clamping and locking means in which the bridging arm or binding member may be operatively disassociated with one of the pivotally opposed members and nested in the other pivotally opposed member. When such a device is used on a tool such as a pair of pliers, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it provides a simple and easily manipulated binding means to maintain the pivotal members in a pre-selected relat1ve position whereby to grip a workpiece between the jaws of the pliers and to form an effective means for holding the workpiece therebetween, or the clamping means may be disassembled relatively above the handles of the pliers and the slidable member nested along one of said members, thus permitting the pliers to be used in the normal way.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which I have illustrated three forms of the invention, and referring first to Figs. 1 to 4 illustrating the first form, a pair of pivotally opposed handles 1 and 2 are pivoted on the pin 3 and are extended forwardly of the fulcrum to define a pair of work gripping jaws 4 and 5.

One of the handles such as handle 2 is provided with guide means 6 which as illustrated in Fig. 2 particularly may comprise a U-shaped member 6 welded or otherwise secured at the ends of its legs to the inner face of the handle 2. This U-shaped member forms with the inner wall of the member 2 an elongate opening 7 which is adapted to receive one end of the bridging member or arm 8 in slidable relation thereto but wherein the longitudinal edges 9 and 10 of the arm 8 may be caused to engage the legs 11 and 12, respectively, in binding relation under conditions which will be described more fully hereinafter.

The other pivotally opposed member or handle 1 has a reduced thickness portion indicated at 13 and extending from the thicker handle portion 1 forwardly toward the jaw end of the member as indicated in the drawing. As viewed in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the undersurface of this reduced portion is provided with a plurality of notches 14 and 15 near the thickened end of the member, these notches being engaged by a spring 16 having a deformed portion 17 carried by the arm 8, the spring being mounted on a pin 18 on the arm 8 and having one cud 1% engageable with the stop 26 to maintain the spring under proper tension as it rides along the undersurface 13 of the pivoted member.

The arm 8 as described above has an elongate fiat body portion presenting straight longitudinal binding edges 9 and 1.0 for binding engagement with the legs 11 and 12., respectively, of the guide member 6. This arm 8 extends toward the other pivotally opposed member 1 and terminates in a slightly enlarged flat area on which the spring carrying pin 38 is mounted, there being a portion of this end of the arm 8 formed upwardly as at 21 and thence downwardly as at 22 to embrace the portion 13 along its upper edge and to thereby slidably support and guide this end of the arm along such portion to permit the arm to be quickly moved to a preselected binding position. The edge of the embracing member slidable along the portion 13 and which lies forwardly or toward the jaw end of the pivotally opposed members and which also lies transversely of the portion 13 is indicated at 23 and provides a means by which this end of the arm 8 may be adjusted into any one of a plurality of binding engagements with its associated pivotally opposed members along the upper surface of the wall. 13.

According to my invention, the arm 8 may be maintained in sliding and binding engagement with the legs 11 and 12 and within the elongate opening in the memher 6 by permitting the deformed portion .17 of the spring 16 to be engaged with the forward notch as illustrated in Fig. 1, this notch forming a limit of movement of the arm 3 toward the right in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, within which limit the opposite end of the arm is engageable within the elongate opening of the guide 6 and may be maintained in such sliding and binding relation within the guide.

if, however, it is desired to disengage the arm 3 from within the member 6, a slight depression downwardly and rearwardly upon the embracing member 21 and a simultaneous movement of the arm to the right, as in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, will cause the deformed portion 17 of the spring 16 to be disengaged from the notch 14 and to be seated within the notch 1.5. At the same time, the opposite end of the arm 8 will be withdrawn from the opening in 1 the member 6, as shown in Fig. 4, the tension of the spring 15 serving to retract the arm 8 to a nested position with respect to the pivotally opposed member 1. The spring 1.6 will maintain the arm 3 in such position until released by forward and downward pressure on the member 21 and at the same time threading the opposite end of the arm 8 into the elongate opening 7 whereupon the tool is ready for use in the manner described above. When the arm 3 is in nested position as in Fig. 4, of course, the tool may be used, in the present instance, as ordinary pliers.

By virtue of the construction employed and the relationship between the guide openings and the bearing points therealong engaged by the arm 8, the operation of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, may be further understood by the fact that if an imaginary straight line A is drawn through the opposed bearing points 11' and 12' of the U-shaped member 6 toward the opposite handle 1 and if an imaginary straight line B is drawn through the fulcrum 3 and the bearing point 21 of the embracing member 21, it will be observed that these straight lines will intersect at a point. C which is located behind the jaws 4 and and the fulcrum 3. Reference to Fig. 3 will show that these imaginary lines intersect at another point behind the fulcrum 3 Where the hearing point 21' has engaged the upper edge of the handle 1 at a point forwardly of that shown in Fig. 1. By such construction, it will be seen that throughout any adjustment of the jaws 4 and 5 and consequently the handles 2 and 1, respectitvely, with respect to each other so long as the arm 8 is engaged and guided in the U-shaped member 6, imaginary lines A and B drawn through the respective bearing points 11'12 and 21 will intersect at a point C which will always be behind the fulcrum 3.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 10, inclusive, 1 have illustrated a modified form of the invention which is similar in many respects to that just described above but which differs in that each of the pivotally opposed members 1 and 2 is provided with elongate slots 3% and 3-1, respectively, for slidably receiving the locking and clamping arm 32. The arm 32 when in operative position bridges the members 1 and 2, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, but may be released from sliding or binding engagement within the slot 31 to be nested in the pivoted member 1 in a manner illustrated in Fig. 8.

More specifically, in the embodiment shown in these figures, the slot 31 formed in the pivoted member 2 opens on opposite sides of the member 2 to receive and guide an end of the pivoted member 1. The slot 31 is preferably inclined rearwardly from the outside of the member 2 toward the inside of the member 1 and, as such, provides two edges 33 and 34 along opposite sides of the slot which serve as hearing or binding edges engageable with the side walls 35 and 36, respectively, of the arm 32 when the arm is adjusted along the member 1 to hold a workpiece W between the jaws 4 and 5, as is illustrated in Fig. 7. in this figure it is clearly indicated at 33 and 34 the manner in which these edges bite into and bindingly engage the outer longitudinal edges 35 and 36, respectively, of the arm 32.

The pivotally opposed member is also provided with an elongate slot 30 extending forwardly from a point located approximately at 37 to the enlarged end of the member near the fulcrum 3. As illustrated, this slot eX- tends to the approximate position indicated at 38. This elongate slot acts as a guide in which the end 39 of the arm 32 extends and is capable of siiding longitudinally of the slot. This end of the arm is provided with a portion extending upwardly as at 40 and thence downwardly at 41 to overlie and embrace the upper edge of the memher 1 and to permit easy relative sliding movement between the end 39 of the arm and the member and at the same time preventing this end of the member 32 from dropping out of the slot 39 or from being otherwise displaced therefrom. The overlying portion dt) is provided with an edge 42 which is capable of engaging the upper surface of the arm 1 in binding relation when a workpiece is between the jaws 4 and 5 and the arm 32 is adjusted to the position along the member 1 to hold the workpiece in clamped position between the jaws and 5 as is illustrated clearly in Fig. 7.

In order that the arm 32 may be removably held at one of its limits of movement along the slot 30, I have provided a notch 43 which is adapted to be engaged by a deformed portion 44 of a spring 45 carried on one end of a pin 46 passing through the end 39 of the arm 32, the other end of the spring engaging a pin or stop 47, as indicated, thus normally exerting a force to draw the end 39 of the arm downwardly as in Fig. 5 and to draw the portion 40 of the embracing end of the arm toward the outer upper surface of the member 1, as illustrated.

If desired, the pin 46 may extend through the end 39 of the arm 32 and may be provided with a similar spring having a deformed portion as described above and which deformed portion is adapted to seat within the groove or notch 43' which extends preferably across the opposite sides of the elongate slot 30 in alignment with the notch 43. This is illustrated more clearly in the sectional view shown in Fig. 9.

A second notch or groove 50 is provided on opposite sides of the slot 30 and is engageable with the deformed portion 44 of the spring 45 to permit the arm 32 to be withdrawn from the guide slot 31 whereupon when it is clear of the slot, the springs 45 will urge the arm 32 to a nested position within the elongate slot 30 substantially in the manner shown in Fig. 8.

The imaginary straight lines A and B have been applied to Figs. 5, 7 and 8 illustrating this embodiment of the invention and it will be noted that these lines A and B Wlll intersect at a point behind the fulcrum 3 throughout any adjustment of the arm 32 with respect to the opposed handles 1 and 2. The straight line A passes through the bearing points 33 and 34 while the imaginary straight line B passes through the fulcrum 3 and the bearing point 40' on the handle 1. As long as the arm 32 is in the slot 31 for engagement with the bearing points 33 and 34, the intersection points of the lines A and B will always remain behind the fulcrum 3 throughout any adjustment of the handles 1 and 2.

Thus it will be seen that this embodiment of the invention operates in substantially the same way as that illustrated in Figs. 1 through 4.

Referring now to Fig. 11, in which I have illustrated a further modified form of the invention, which in all essential respects is similar to the two forms of the invention illustrated and described above and illustrates the same as applied particularly to the form shown in Figs. 1 through 4 wherein the clamping or holding arm 8 is slidable at one end for pivotal and sliding movement along one of the opposed pivoted members 1 and which has a portion operating in a guide opening in the inverted U-shaped member 6. I have discovered that if the opposed side edges of that portion of the arm 80 which operates in the opening '6 of the U-shaped member are disposed out of parallel relation, that is, converging outwardly toward the free end of the arm 80, that this condition will permit the jaws 4 and 5 and consequently the pivoted members 1 and 2 to be moved about the fulcrum 3 a greater angular distance per unit of the movement of the other end of the arm 80 slidably and pivotally supported in and guided along the pivoted member 1, as compared to the relative degree of movement of these parts where the portion of the arm which operates through the guide opening in the member 6 is provided with parallel side walls such as 9 and 10 in Figs. 1 through 4. In this connection, it will be noted that in the form shown in Fig. 11, the side wall or edge 60 is inclined toward the opposite wall 61 in a direction toward the free end of the arm 80. It will be seen then that as this arm is moved through the elongate opening in the member 6 the width of the arm engaging the binding areas 11 and 12 will be varied progressively and as the width decreases, the members 1 and 2 will assume a wider angular relationship at the same time the movement of the other end of the arm 80 along the guide on the member 1 will be relatively short as compared to the same movement in the form shown in Figs. 1 through 4. I have also shown in Fig. 11 the imaginary lines A and B, the imaginary line A passing through the bearing points 11' and 12' and the imaginary line B passing through the fulcrum 3 and the bearing point 83. These lines intersecting at a point C as in the previously described embodiments will always be located behind the fulcrum 3 throughout any adjustment of the tool.

The free end of the arm 80 is provided with a lip or abutment 81 which projects in a direction toward the fulfrum63 while flie arm 80 is within the opening of the In other respects, this form of the invention is similar in operation to the forms already described. The arm '86) terminates in an enlarged end portion 82 overlying the side of the handle 1 and is provided with an extension 83 formed to overlie and embrace the outer edge of the handle 1, providing means for slidably and pivotally supporting this end of the arm 80 on the handle, as well as a binding or bearing edge 84 engageable with the outer edge of the handle 1. A spring 85 carried on a pin 86 normally exerts a pressure to retain the extension 83 in engagement with the handle 1 at all times, even in the dotted line position in Fig. 11 which illustrates the nested position of the arm 80 when it is released from within the opening of the loop 6. This spring also aids in moving the arm to nested position as indicated in the dotted line position of the arm.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device comprising pivotally opposed members, means for locking or holding said opposed members in a preselected position, said means comprising guide means on each of said members, a locking member operatively connected with and movable along each of said guide means, one end of said locking member having pivotal and sliding support along one of said guide means, the bearing points of said other guide means being on a line which intersects a line extending between the fulcrum of said opposed members and the bearing points of the first named guide means at a point behind the fulcrum of said pivoted members, and resilient means on said locking member exerting a thrust against one of said guide means throughout the sliding range of movement of said locking member therealong tending to rotate said locking member to a nesting position with one of said opposed members.

2. In a device comprising pivotally opposed members, means for locking or holding said opposed members in a preselected position, said means comprising guide means on each of said members, a locking member operatively connected with and movable along each of said guide means, one end of said locking member having pivotal and sliding support along one of said guide means, said locking member having a longitudinally extending portion slidable longitudinally in said other guide means, the bearing points of said other guide means being on a line which intersects a line extending between the fulcrum of said opposed members and the bearing points of the first named guide means at a point behind the fulcrum of said pivoted members, and resilient means on said locking member exerting a thrust against said one guide means affording pivotal support for the locking member and tending to nest said locking member with respect to said first guide means when said pivoted members are moved apart to release said locking member from said second guide means.

3. In a device comprising pivotally opposed members, means for locking or holding said opposed members in a preselected position, said means comprising guide means on each of said members, a locking member operatively connected with and movable along each of said guide means, one end of said locking member having pivotal and sliding support along one of said guide means, said locking member having a longitudinally extending portion slidable longitudinally in said other guide means, the bearing points of said other guide means being on a line which intersects a line extending between the fulcrum of said opposed members and the bearing points of the first named guide means at a point behind the fulcrum of said pivoted members, and resilient means on said locking member exerting a thrust against said one guide means affording pivotal support for the locking member tending to nest said locking member with respect to said first guide means when said pivoted members are moved apart to release said locking member from said second guide means, cooperating means on said first guide means and said resilient means to releasably limit themovement of the locking member in said second guide means.

4. In a device comprising pivotally opposed members, means for locking or holding said opposed members in a preselected position, said means comprising guide means on each of said members, a locking member operatively connected with and movable along each of said guide means, one end of said locking member having pivotal and sliding support along one of said guide means, said locking member having a longitudinally extending portion slidable longitudinally in said other guide means, the bearing points of said other guide means being on a line which intersects a line extending between the fulcrum of said opposed members and the bearing points of the first named guide means at a point behind the fulcrum of said pivoted members, and resilient means on said locking member exerting a thrust against said one guide means afiording pivotal support for the locking member tending to nest said locking member with respect to said first guide means when said pivoted members are moved apart to release said locking member from said second guide means, said longitudinally extending portion of the locking member having oppositely disposed longitudinal edges engageable with said second guide means in releasable binding relation thereto, said locking member having another portion embracing and slidable along said first guide means in releasable binding relation thereto.

5. In a device comprising pivotally opposed members, means for locking or holding said opposed members in a preselected position, said means comprising guide means on each of said members, and a locking member operatively connected with and movable along each of said guide means, one end of said locking member having pivotal and sliding support along one of said guide means, said locking member having a longitudinally extending portion slidable longitudinally in said other guide means, the bearing points of said other guide means being on a line which intersects a line extending between the fulcrum of said opposed members and the bearing points of the first named guide means at a point behind the fulcrum of said pivoted members, one of said guide means comprising a slot formed in one of said pivotally opposed;

members.

6. In a device comprising pivotally opposed members, means for locking or holding said opposed members in a preselected position, said means comprising guide means on each of said members, and a locking member operatively connected with and movable along each of said guide means, one end of said lockingmember having pivotal and sliding support along one of said guide means, said locking member having a longitudinally extending portion slidable longitudinally insaid other guide means, the bearingpoint-s of said other guide means being on a line which intersects a. line extending. between the fulcrum of said opposed members and the bearing points of the. first named guide means at a point behind the fulcrum of said pivoted" members, both of said guide means comprising slots formed in said pivotally opposed members.

7. In a device comprising pivotally opposed members, means for locking or holding said opposed members in a preselected position, said means comprising guide means on each of said members, a locking member operatively connected with and movable along each of said guide means, one end of said locking member having pivotal and sliding support along one of said guide means, said locking member having a longitudinally extending portion slidable longitudinally in said other guide means, the bearing points of said other guide means being on a line which intersects a line extending between the fulcrum of said opposed members and the. bearing points of the first named guide means at a point behind the fulcrum of said pivoted members, one of said guide means comprising a slot formed in one of said pivotally' opposed members, and resilient means carried by said locking member and having slidable engagement along one of said guide means to exert a thrust upon said locking member tending to rotate it toward said one guide, means.

8.. in a device comprising pivotally opposed members, means for locking or holding said opposed members in a preselected position, said means comprising guide means on each of said members, a lockingmember operatively connected with and movable along each of said guide means, one end of said locking member-having pivotal and sliding support along one of said guide means, said locking member having a longitudinally extending portion slidable longitudinally in said other guide means, the bearing points of said other guide means being on a line which intersects a line extending between the fulcrum of said opposed members and the bearing points of the first named guide means at a point behind the fulcrum of said pivoted members, both of said guide means comprising slots formed in said pivotally opposed members, and resilient means carried by said locking member and having slidable. engagement along one of said guide means, to exert a thrust upon said locking member tending tore.- tateit toward said one guide means.

9. In a. device comprising pivotally opposed members, means for locking or holding said opposed members in a preselected position, said means comprising guide means on each of said members, a locking member operatively connected with and movable along each of said guide means, one end or". said. locking member having pivotal and sliding support along one of said guide means, said locking member-having a longitudinallyextending portion slidable longitudinally in said other guide means, the bearing points of said other guide means being on a line which intersects a line extending between the fulcrum of said opposed members and the bearing points of the first named guide means at a point behind the fulcrum of said pivoted members, both of said guide means comprising slots formed in said pivotal'lyopposed members, and resilient means carried by said locking member and having slidable engagement along one of said guide means to exert a thrust upon said locking member tending to rotate it toward said one guide. means, said respective slots extending longitudinally toward a point of intersection behind the fulcrum of said pivotally opposed members.

10. The device defined in claim 1 in which said locking member includes oppositely disposed longitudinal edges engageable with the bearing points. of said other guide means and converging in a direction toward said other guide means.

ll. The. device defined in claim 1 in which said locking member includes oppositely disposed longitudinal edges engageable with the bearing points of said other guide means and converging in a direction toward said other guide means, and a retaining lip formed at an extremity of one ofthe. converging edges.

12. The device defined in claim 1' in which said locking member includes oppositely" disposed longitudinal edges converging toward said other guide means and having releasable binding engagement with said other guide means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,149,060 Ingram Aug. 3, 1915 2,454,309 Davis Nov. 23, 1948 2,539,865 'Sarvie Jan. 30, 1951 2,614,894 Brock Oct. 21, 1952 

